Interesting thoughts. Yeah Spurs were good for the first 20 minutes or so, but I think that had more to do with being a goal to the good against their rivals. Sometimes you don't need to be motivated to have a good start in a derby, you're fired up as is and you want to go out and impress. The 2 striker thing is down to AvB, as you say, but I think most managers these days would play a similar system against a team that lets you have time on the ball to play some nice football, and also because the squad is loaded with good strikers and attacking players. I certainly wouldn't play 1 striker in a derby match when 4th place is potentially at stake. Not doing so would be cowardly.

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You can see it both ways I suppose we beat Arsenal and Tottenham in our derby games so far with one striker, and that was Torres! We pressed high up and played great in both games, without a doubt our 2 best performances of the year i'd say.

I wonder what Ross thinks of the bolder, 4-4-2 approach, it's a shame the sending off meant we couldn't see a whole 90 minutes of it to see if it's something that can work. Maybe playing Dempsey just off Defoe in a 4-4-1-1 would be a good compromise.

You can see it both ways I suppose we beat Arsenal and Tottenham in our derby games so far with one striker, and that was Torres! We pressed high up and played great in both games, without a doubt our 2 best performances of the year i'd say.

I wonder what Ross thinks of the bolder, 4-4-2 approach, it's a shame the sending off meant we couldn't see a whole 90 minutes of it to see if it's something that can work. Maybe playing Dempsey just off Defoe in a 4-4-1-1 would be a good compromise.

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It's a huge irony of course that all of us who wanted the dreaded 4-4-2 dispensed with (as favoured majorly by Redknapp) this season, were, come the Arsenal game, begging for AVB to go 4-4-2.

The sending off massively changed it up (the one team you don't want to be down to 10 men against is Arsenal), but, as others have noted, Spurs were looking pretty damn good prior to Ade's red card.

That said, with eleven players on the pitch, we've looked pretty damn good plenty of times this season for half a match or so, only to become utterly over-run. AVB's tactics and substitutions have to also be questioned somewhat.

Ultimately 4-4-2 isn't what I want to see, but, for now and minus the players we need to achieve something Porto-like or whatever, we'll accept anything that keeps us in shooting distance of that CL 4th spot.

It's a huge irony of course that all of us who wanted the dreaded 4-4-2 dispensed with (as favoured majorly by Redknapp) this season, were, come the Arsenal game, begging for AVB to go 4-4-2.

The sending off massively changed it up (the one team you don't want to be down to 10 men against is Arsenal), but, as others have noted, Spurs were looking pretty damn good prior to Ade's red card.

That said, with eleven players on the pitch, we've looked pretty damn good plenty of times this season for half a match or so, only to become utterly over-run. AVB's tactics and substitutions have to also be questioned somewhat.

Ultimately 4-4-2 isn't what I want to see, but, for now and minus the players we need to achieve something Porto-like or whatever, we'll accept anything that keeps us in shooting distance of that CL 4th spot.

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You'll be wanting Redknapp back before long then?

I think you need a great striker to play the 4-2-3-1, Defoe is probably a bit small and is mainly there for finishing. The villan of Saturday can do it, but as we saw, he's not someone you can trust

Same for Chelsea really, Torres does well in the build up, but he can't score. I think both teams have everything needed to play the formation, apart from a main man at the top.

I think more and more top clubs are looking for that 360 degree centre forward, who can drop back into the buildup, play with his back to goal, hold up the ball, and be a predator who bangs them in. With the different challenge of the CL (especially away from home), a team can't get away with a more limited player up top alone.

Giroud has shown some promise for Arsenal, but he's nowhere near the complete player that Van Persie was for us. Besides the goals, the fact that Van Persie perfectly fit the Arsenal system is what made him such a huge loss. We've now got to play to Giroud's strengths (which we've started to do), rather than at the start of the season where it felt as if the rest of the team expected him to contribute the same as RVP did from that position (even if at a lower level).

We've now got to play to Giroud's strengths (which we've started to do), rather than at the start of the season where it felt as if the rest of the team expected him to contribute the same as RVP did from that position (even if at a lower level).

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Good point, it's been awhile since we've had someone like this. He's fairly good with the ball at his feet as well though not in v Persie's league. Still he heads much better and it's nice to have another dimension in attack, especially now that Theo's is getting more accurate with his crosses. Before, it was endlessly trying to walk the ball into the net.

I'm still not totally sold on IPod but his work rate was good on the left on Saturday. Wish he had a bit more pace but he's got plenty of guile.

We need a John Hartson, that's what i'm getting from tonights TV match

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I know the feeling! It would be great if we still had Drogba, just to see what he would do with Mata, Hazard and Oscar. He didn't have that kind of service when he was here, i'd love to see him bullying both centre backs whilst they ran riot in the gaps.. ahh well.

I see the papers are laying into Chelsea already, describing how it's all fallen apart and Di Matteo will be gone soon. It's a load of crap, we're closer in the title race than I, or any 'pundit' thought at the start of the season. Whilst being in a fight to get out of the group stages of the Champions League was always likely, Shakhtar and Juventus are great teams.

The problems that the papers blame the manager for are stupid, Terry being missing and injured, Cole injured, Lampard injured, Torres as hopeless as ever, Essien and Meireles moved on. The squad is thin, hardly the managers fault.

I know the feeling! It would be great if we still had Drogba, just to see what he would do with Mata, Hazard and Oscar. He didn't have that kind of service when he was here, i'd love to see him bullying both centre backs whilst they ran riot in the gaps.. ahh well.

I see the papers are laying into Chelsea already, describing how it's all fallen apart and Di Matteo will be gone soon. It's a load of crap, we're closer in the title race than I, or any 'pundit' thought at the start of the season. Whilst being in a fight to get out of the group stages of the Champions League was always likely, Shakhtar and Juventus are great teams.

The problems that the papers blame the manager for are stupid, Terry being missing and injured, Cole injured, Lampard injured, Torres as hopeless as ever, Essien and Meireles moved on. The squad is thin, hardly the managers fault.

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Yeah I don't think Roberto is going to be sacked, he'll be given a full season at the least; Roman owes it to him.

Though are you starting to see what I was getting at regarding letting Meireles and Ess leave? Raul would have fit in perfectly right now and Ess is doing alright in Spain, it seems he's fit in their system better than Modric has. Chelsea is desperate for experience at the center of the park. And Essien can cover in defense too. Cole's off to PSG, Lamps is gone in January, and now the boss will go too if the press are right :roll: Lukaku should come back. So should de Brunye.

(but to be fair Essien needed to get out of England, he's still young-ish and great when fit, but all those years in the Premier League have taken a toll on his knees. Perhaps a refresher in Spain is all he needed, perhaps he'll be able to last a season there. With that being said, Chelsea were dumb to let him leave after a decent preseason and fit, I personally think he'll be this year's "Sneijder", meaning the cog that just makes the team work infinitely better, straight into the Champions League title like Mou did before at Inter, he got Wesley at a bargin price and he just was the piece that was missing to make the team work. Madrid need an all-action defender/midfielder who's got speed, size, a wicked shot off both feet, and the ability to move forward. He's played left back before under Mou and he could fit in as a wingback at Madrid, kind of like Coentrao who tends to drift into the center of the park to help with the attack)

Madrid didn't need Modric, his best role is already taken up by Alonso and now he's forced out on the wing, where creativity goes to die. Essien fits in wherever Madrid need him and adds a rocket shot from range.

I agree they shouldn't of left, simply because the numbers just aren't there anymore. I can't think of any other top team with 2 midfielders in the first team squad (3 if you include Lampard, who looks like being weeks away from going).

I've no problem in letting Essien and Meireles go if they were replaced by younger players, but that didn't happen. Personally i'd like to see Newcastle start doing well, Cabaye is out till next year so maybe if Anita and Tiote form a nice partnership they could be tempted to let him leave for the right price. It was amazing they held on to all of their big players last summer, something has to give, especially when you hear Ashley wants to bring in the likes of Debuchy, Sissoko, Granqvist and Remy.

I know the feeling! It would be great if we still had Drogba, just to see what he would do with Mata, Hazard and Oscar. He didn't have that kind of service when he was here, i'd love to see him bullying both centre backs whilst they ran riot in the gaps.. ahh well.

I see the papers are laying into Chelsea already, describing how it's all fallen apart and Di Matteo will be gone soon. It's a load of crap, we're closer in the title race than I, or any 'pundit' thought at the start of the season. Whilst being in a fight to get out of the group stages of the Champions League was always likely, Shakhtar and Juventus are great teams.

The problems that the papers blame the manager for are stupid, Terry being missing and injured, Cole injured, Lampard injured, Torres as hopeless as ever, Essien and Meireles moved on. The squad is thin, hardly the managers fault.

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A team slowly improving doesn't make a headline does it?A crisis in which the manager has not performed the "expected" mirical will and if there isn't one best we make one up!
I should say i mean pre kicking Berkovic in hte face Hartson, lean, fit and willing to run through a wal to get the ball, he was good to watch! On a side note it's good to see Benayoun back, glimpses of qualuty offering a nice outlet, hammers are collecting some good creative players again.At least Big Sam isn't likely to do a pardew!

Yeah I don't think Roberto is going to be sacked, he'll be given a full season at the least; Roman owes it to him.

Though are you starting to see what I was getting at regarding letting Meireles and Ess leave? Raul would have fit in perfectly right now and Ess is doing alright in Spain, it seems he's fit in their system better than Modric has. Chelsea is desperate for experience at the center of the park. And Essien can cover in defense too. Cole's off to PSG, Lamps is gone in January, and now the boss will go too if the press are right :roll: Lukaku should come back. So should de Brunye.

(but to be fair Essien needed to get out of England, he's still young-ish and great when fit, but all those years in the Premier League have taken a toll on his knees. Perhaps a refresher in Spain is all he needed, perhaps he'll be able to last a season there. With that being said, Chelsea were dumb to let him leave after a decent preseason and fit, I personally think he'll be this year's "Sneijder", meaning the cog that just makes the team work infinitely better, straight into the Champions League title like Mou did before at Inter, he got Wesley at a bargin price and he just was the piece that was missing to make the team work. Madrid need an all-action defender/midfielder who's got speed, size, a wicked shot off both feet, and the ability to move forward. He's played left back before under Mou and he could fit in as a wingback at Madrid, kind of like Coentrao who tends to drift into the center of the park to help with the attack)

Madrid didn't need Modric, his best role is already taken up by Alonso and now he's forced out on the wing, where creativity goes to die. Essien fits in wherever Madrid need him and adds a rocket shot from range.

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Yes, it's ridiculous, total nonsense, if anyone's talking of replacing Roberto. He's utterly turned to the club around, effectively changed how they play (and in a far better manner than, dare I say it, AVB), and in winning the CL, reached undreamt of success. As has been well documented, seems to me they just really badly need that top tier striker to bang in the goals.

Yes, it's ridiculous, total nonsense, if anyone's talking of replacing Roberto. He's utterly turned to the club around, effectively changed how they play (and in a far better manner than, dare I say it, AVB), and in winning the CL, reached undreamt of success. As has been well documented, seems to me they just really badly need that top tier striker to bang in the goals.

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Well he's gone for it, he's dropping Torres and playing Hazard up top on his own tonight. It's a brave move, but Torres and Sturridge have been so bad that something has to be done.

Personally i'd of gone with Moses. He can drop back to help in midfield, which we need, he's played the position before and he's been taking chances when he gets them. That's what i'd of gone with.

That was frustrating. Talking of tactics, Roberto's were off tonight! Hazard is a winger or a supporting striker. He isn't a striker.

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I didn't have any problems with it. Hazard has been very good in his short time here, i'd have him in the team over Torres any day of the week! He wanted to get another defensive player into the team, which dropping Torres allowed.

Torres and Sturridge have had plenty of chances to show what they can do, and failed. Playing with no striker is pretty much what we do every game anyway, they're that ineffective

I think ideally Di Matteo would of wanted to play Ramires on the right, where he did last year. That would of left Mikel as the only midfielder though, it's funny how shocking it is that a top team has so few options.

Didn't realize Juve was so good, don't watch the Italian league usually, so fluid, it's a shame they didn't get RvP, than all of our teams would have had an easier ride this year.

Don't think Dimatteo should be fired but I'd like to see it and see Pep brought in.

That way, we can see what a complete wanker Roman is when he fires him in 2014.

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Juventus are brilliant. I watch about the same of Serie A as I do the Premier League, and ESPN put their matches on more often than not.

I don't think we would of done much better against them in Turin even on top form, they're so strong at home. It was a tough group, lets be honest. If Shakhtar and Juventus can avoid Barcelona, I believe both are capable of making it to the final stages.

Absolutely stupid... I can only think Chelsea have got Guardiola on board - but even then, this is just incomprehensible to me... madness!:shock:

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I doubt they have. A combination of bad results and more importantly the Clattenburg affair seem to have been fatal. Sad because the results could easily be turned around and because the Clattenburg business could (i) turn around and (ii) would be forgotten with some success. I like R di M and thought he did well at WBA and well again at Chelsea. But I doubt that he is sufficiently pragmatic for the Chelsea management. I am not sure Guardiola is either. I think someone like Hiddink would be a better choice.

Nah it shouldn't, no Chelsea fan I know thought it should. The only problem is that the squad is seriously short in too many areas.

Players lose form throughout the season, but there is nobody else to come in, same for injuries.

I wonder if Benitez will try 5 at the back to tighten the defence, he did it for awhile at Inter. I suppose it makes sense, with Mata, Hazard and Oscar not giving much defensively. It would allow for Terry to have extra cover, Ivanovic is great in the middle and Luiz could have more freedom as a sweeper. Cole and Azpilicueta are good going forward so it would work there too.

It would allow us to counter attack more, which is what Torres did so well at Liverpool when he had alot of space. It makes sense on paper.

"It was an honour for me to be appointed manager of the club that I loved playing for and one that is so close to my heart. I am extremely proud of the successes and trophies that we were able to bring to the club in recent months.

"Lifting Chelsea's first Champions League trophy, in Munich, was the best achievement in club history and without doubt the highlight of my career to date, both as a player and manager. It is a memory I will treasure for the rest of my life.

"I have a deep and unreserved passion for Chelsea Football Club and I would like to sincerely thank all of the staff, my players and of course the Chelsea fans, for their tremendous and unconditioned support in the intense time I have been the manager at the Bridge. I wish all of them every success for the rest of the season and beyond."

. I like R di M and thought he did well at WBA and well again at Chelsea. But I doubt that he is sufficiently pragmatic for the Chelsea management. I am not sure Guardiola is either. I think someone like Hiddink would be a better choice.

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WBA seem to be a lot better after him than they were with him.
Does anybody think that Guardiola would want the job? He achieved good thing with Barca but it takes time, that is a club that's been usign the same football blueprint for the last 15 years, would he get the chance to build it?
I think RDM leaving was always going to happen, took too long for him to be offered the job (I think Fena may of said that before?) in the summer for him to seem like first choice and the owner seems to want to be entertained.I wonder if he's considered getting his licence?

Personally, I thought he was very good. Last season his tactics, in Europe especially, were always spot on. The team look so prepared for opponents and you could see how much work had gone into preparation. Benfica away especially, it's a tricky place to go. He made some left field selections and the players looked like they knew what the opposition would do before even they did. For that game he played Ferreira from nowhere, Kalou, Meireles, dropped Lampard, Torres instead of Drogba etc.. Huge decisions that were spot on.

This year he managed to make huge steps towards changing the way the team plays, after a decade of the old way of playing, to make any kind of change was a huge ask. We're conceding too many at the moment, but we're 10 times better to watch than in the past. He did great work to get us started on changing, it's a shame he isn't going to get to carry it on and sort out the defence, bring in options in midfield, get a striker who can actually do something etc.. It was never going to happen over night, a few growing pains 3 months into it shouldn't be a reason to fire him in my opinion, especially when you consider whoever the manager is will be leaving in May anyway.

As it is, we've got Benitez for the next few months before the next permanent manager. I'd of prefered to see Di Matteo keep going.

They keep evolving -- good for them. Most of our leading clubs aren't evolving at the moment.

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True, they have been up and down a fair few times over the last 10 or so years, it's good to see they're establishing themselves. They have had some good managers who have done well, Mowbray started it, Di Matteo got them promoted and up to 11th in the League, Hodgson continued it and now Clarke is taking it a step further.

I think it's similar to Fulham, Coleman, Hodgson, Hughes and now Jol have all come in and done great work. The boards of both sides have to take alot of credit I think.

I don't think I quite realized/considered properly until yesterday, aside from winning the Portugese league and the Europa cup in one very successful season with Porto (where, it must be emphasized, he had the major fortune to inherit the likes of Moutinho, Hulk, Falcoa, etc), AVB has actually done bog all in management! :mrgreen:

He hasn't proved himself at all. He hasn't won anything. He hasn't really crafted a side. In short, he has very slim experience, and Porto aside (and there is a strong argument re the comparative weakness of that league IMO), all he's really done is get himself sacked from Chelsea (okay, that's not so difficult :wink: ), and make a so-so start at Spurs.

Not that I'm anti-AVB all of a sudden. He needs to make his own signings - arguably he hasn't been responsible for any of those who came in during the off-season (Lloris, perhaps, aside), Levy really needs to splashh some cash. But... yes, food for thought.

Wenger spending significant money on a player who turns 30 in less than 9 months? I can't see that happening. Unless, of course, Schalke are willing to take Chamakh or Bendtner in a straight swap (with perhaps Denilson thrown in as a sweetener), and Huntelaar is satisfied with a rolling one year contract on Walcott money!

Heard a rumour that Rodgers is interested in Cavani and/or Huntelaar? Cavani is understandable as he would do well with Suarez up front, but i doubt we have the funds to buy him. Huntelaar seems more realistic but now that Liverpool now have a knack for using 'younger talent', does Rodgers really wanna spend money on a player aprroching 30 by next year?

rding AVB, I actually thought he was a suprising appointment for Chelsea last year as given all the other people Abromovic had hired he had nothing in his CV to indicate anything good might come of it let alone the ability to dismantle the current/old CFC squad and build a new one whilst maintaning the players (almost more importantly owners respect) while doing it.As you say he couldn't say to them (in a proverbial way) "follow me i've got league titles, champ league winners medals etc". I actually thought the europa cup was a bigger deal than winning the Portugal league.

rding AVB, I actually thought he was a suprising appointment for Chelsea last year as given all the other people Abromovic had hired he had nothing in his CV to indicate anything good might come of it let alone the ability to dismantle the current/old CFC squad and build a new one whilst maintaning the players (almost more importantly owners respect) while doing it.As you say he couldn't say to them (in a proverbial way) "follow me i've got league titles, champ league winners medals etc". I actually thought the europa cup was a bigger deal than winning the Portugal league.

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He was being touted as the next Mourinho at the time to be fair, though I did think he would have been better suited trying to keep his Porto squad together for another year and having a go at Champions League first to really see how good he was - suppose you can't really refuse if you get a big money offer from Chelsea though.

As for Di Matteo, yes he didn't have much experience but that some people think he wasn't good enough (not in this thread, but about half of what I've read/heard is of this opinion) is a bit ridiculous. Mourinho was hailed a tactical genius for beating Barca in Champions League with the same tactics yet I read that Di Matteo was lucky? He doesn't even get credit for the 4-1 thrashing of Napoli (who City couldn't beat in two tries) or beating Benfica (who knocked out United), let alone the final where he had a far weaker squad to put out than Bayern had. In between all that was a 5-1 thrashing of 'arry's hotspuds in FA Cup as well as a solid final performance over Liverpool (who aren't doing much better this year by the way..don't see Rodgers under any pressure funny enough).

This year he had them playing some of the best attacking football in the league and until Terry was injured also a solid defence. Then, to top this off he's (allegedly) forced to play Torres every week no matter how bad his performances get because of his price tag. To be only 4 points off the pace in the league though admittedly that's behind the in crisis, no team spirit, uncohesive, unbeaten City side and 3 behind United who just about all will agree did not deserve to win their meeting -- is pretty good imo.

Benitez while decent has never really balanced league with European success and even in his success in Europe got similarly "lucky" as Di Matteo in winning on penalties in the final.

In other words, Roman's a twat as are those in the media who encourage this behaviour.

He was being touted as the next Mourinho at the time to be fair, though I did think he would have been better suited trying to keep his Porto squad together for another year and having a go at Champions League first to really see how good he was - suppose you can't really refuse if you get a big money offer from Chelsea though.

As for Di Matteo, yes he didn't have much experience but that some people think he wasn't good enough (not in this thread, but about half of what I've read/heard is of this opinion) is a bit ridiculous. Mourinho was hailed a tactical genius for beating Barca in Champions League with the same tactics yet I read that Di Matteo was lucky? He doesn't even get credit for the 4-1 thrashing of Napoli (who City couldn't beat in two tries) or beating Benfica (who knocked out United), let alone the final where he had a far weaker squad to put out than Bayern had. In between all that was a 5-1 thrashing of 'arry's hotspuds in FA Cup as well as a solid final performance over Liverpool (who aren't doing much better this year by the way..don't see Rodgers under any pressure funny enough).

This year he had them playing some of the best attacking football in the league and until Terry was injured also a solid defence. Then, to top this off he's (allegedly) forced to play Torres every week no matter how bad his performances get because of his price tag. To be only 4 points off the pace in the league though admittedly that's behind the in crisis, no team spirit, uncohesive, unbeaten City side and 3 behind United who just about all will agree did not deserve to win their meeting -- is pretty good imo.

Benitez while decent has never really balanced league with European success and even in his success in Europe got similarly "lucky" as Di Matteo in winning on penalties in the final.

In other words, Roman's a twat as are those in the media who encourage this behaviour.

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Hard to disagree with any of that!

I wonder if the City fans will join in with the Benitez abuse on Sunday, it would be strange to see both sets of supporters so against him.

In other words, Roman's a twat as are those in the media who encourage this behaviour.

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SAdly for the footballing world he's a rich one who can do as he pleases!
As has been said before a "crisis" sells papers, harmony within a balanced squad doesn't.
On a lighter note news from the Azerbaijani Premier League:

SAdly for the footballing world he's a rich one who can do as he pleases!
As has been said before a "crisis" sells papers, harmony within a balanced squad doesn't.
On a lighter note news from the Azerbaijani Premier League:

Sounds like a plan! I'm sure living on FM13 for the next few months will get you up to speed for the West Ham job

Personally I hope Guardiola does say no, I don't think it's a good fit. Mourinho is apparently leaving Madrid after this season, his daughter is starting uni in London, he still has a home there, the relationship with Abramovich is better than it's ever been. Ferguson and Mourinho are the best two managers out there for my money, obviously only one of those is possible.

Sounds like a plan! I'm sure living on FM13 for the next few months will get you up to speed for the West Ham job

Personally I hope Guardiola does say no, I don't think it's a good fit. Mourinho is apparently leaving Madrid after this season, his daughter is starting uni in London, he still has a home there, the relationship with Abramovich is better than it's ever been. Ferguson and Mourinho are the best two managers out there for my money, obviously only one of those is possible.

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You're right i shall go shopping at the weekend and prepare my CV!

Do they get along now then?Do you think it'd be wise to go back? Would it tarnish his legacy if he came back and it didn't work?
(Mourinho I mean, though Ferguson being paraded as the new CFC manager would be something as a suprise).Look at that, your manager is 1 day into the job and we're discussing his replacement.

I think that was possibly one of the worst games i've seen. The quality was so poor, no surprise both sides aren't getting through the group stages of the Champions League

I hope Abramovich enjoyed what he saw, I can imagine he'll be seeing alot more of it over the coming months.

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I thought the villa gooner march from yesterday was the worse but city chels was a turgid affair

I still think the rain had something to do with the quality of both matches, it's not like they never play in the rain but it was really coming down and with no traction, the quality gets bad in a hurry.

Having said that, Rafael and Mancini being in charge of these two sides and they boring way in they deploy them is depressing.

I thought the villa gooner march from yesterday was the worse but city chels was a turgid affair

I still think the rain had something to do with the quality of both matches, it's not like they never play in the rain but it was really coming down and with no traction, the quality gets bad in a hurry.

Having said that, Rafael and Mancini being in charge of these two sides and they boring way in they deploy them is depressing.

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The rain may of played a part in things, but both teams were really sloppy. Zabaleta had a decent chance in the first half, but apart from that, neither keeper had to make a save.

Roman has a problem though. The squad is short of good players. Does he give money to Rafa? Or does he wait to see who he appoints at the end of the season?

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It will be interesting to find out in January! I think the squad is just short, not necessarily short of good players. It looks like Mikel will be suspended for 3 games after confronting Clattenburg, which means Ramires is the only central midfielder we now have. Up top we are woefully short of numbers, you are right about the lack of quality in that position though.

Torres and Sturridge could both be gone before the start of next season, bringing in a striker is never easy, let alone 3 needed to have the depth there. Same for midfielders, when Lampard goes it leaves us with 2, leaving us possibly 3 short there (replacements for Lampard, Meireles and Essien). Add into the mix a need for a new left back as Cole appears to be leaving.

That's possibly 7 new players needed over the next two windows. With FFP it's probably an impossible task to fill the positions with quality, but a start will need to be made in January. As you say though, not knowing who the manager is going to be makes it tough. It could be Guardiola, maybe Mourinho or someone else. They have totally different styles so planning for one of them is risky.

Geoff Shreeves is a massive *****. The questions he asks Wenger/Mancini/Benitez are a joke, he speaks to Fergie/Harry like he's their mate.

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Talking of Harry, I'm a bit surprised he didn't wait until a bigger club than QPR was available or came in for him. Wonder if he'll do the same as when he quickly revived Tottenham and proceeded to take them ever upwards, or if it will be a repeat of his inglorious time at Southampton when he took them down a division?

As for Hughes, his reputation is now badly damaged. Maybe that's about it from him as any kind of force in the PL?

Talking of Harry, I'm a bit surprised he didn't wait until a bigger club than QPR was available or came in for him. Wonder if he'll do the same as when he quickly revived Tottenham and proceeded to take them ever upwards, or if it will be a repeat of his inglorious time at Southampton when he took them down a division?

As for Hughes, his reputation is now badly damaged. Maybe that's about it from him as any kind of force in the PL?

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I think Hughes has another chance left, he did pretty well at Fulham not too long ago. Maybe Southampton? They seem to be looking for an excuse to get rid of Adkins. Hughes or Di Matteo would probably be on the shortlist for it, i'd of thought.